Lifting-tongs.



No. 796,642. I PATENTED AUG. 8, 1 J. P. HALL.

LIFTING TONGS.

APPLICATION mum un.2,1905.

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WITNESSES /-5 l6 [8 Q INVENTOR'.

v flamasTj't all ATTORNEY PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

J. P. HALL.

LIFTING TONGS. APPL IOATIoH FILED mR.2,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z INVENTOR: flames P31311 r ML ZT cu.. rncmmmmnins. wAsruNGYon o c No. 796,642. PATBNTED we. a, 1905.

IJ.P.HALL. LIFTING TONGS,

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 2, 1905.

4. SHEETS-SKE'ET 3.

WITNESSES Y INVENTOR'.

5 fla EEJ-FH fiwfiwgat a am ATTORN PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

I No. 796,642.

1. P. HALL. LIFTING ones; APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 2,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IINVENTOR v m JRmtc 3F WITNESSES ATTOR Y A xmwv s mmmn 00., PWTO-UYHOGRAPHE JAMES P. HALL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

LlFTlNG-TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed March 2, 1905. Serial No. 248.049.

To all 107mm, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES P. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifting-Tongs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lifting-tongs, and the invention has reference more particularly to a novel construction of lifting-tongs which is especially adapted for use with the lifting or raising and carrying about of that class of concrete or other suitable building blocks or stones which are provided with one or more openings, according to the size of the block or stone, the tongs having holding-jaws provided with gripping means or devices which are arranged to grip the inner faces of such opening or openings in the block or stone, so as not to mar or damage the outer faces of the block or stone, all in a manner to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

My present invention has for its principal objects to provide a simple, cheap, and eificient construction of lifting-tongs comprising a pair of connected lifting or carrying members or arms which are preferably hinged or pivotally connected at their inner end-portions upon each of which is adjustably arranged a holding or grasping jaw, the said jaws being movable past each other, so as to be made to act in opposite manner, according to whether the block or stone to be lifted or carried about is provided with one or more openings, necessitating the conversion of the holding-grip of the jaws from an outer direction, or what may be termed an outside grip into an inner direction, or what may be termed an inside grip.

By an outside grip I mean the gripping action of the two jaws in opposite outer directions upon the opposite inner faces of a single opening with which the block or stone is provided, and by an inside gripI mean the gripping action of the two jaws in directions toward each other and upon opposite sides of a wall formed between two openings of the building block or stone.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly mentioned will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of my present invention.

The invention consists, primarily, in anovel lifting-tongs, hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are two side views of a lifting-tongs embodying the principles of my present invention with longitudinallvertical sectional representations of two sizes of building blocks or stones provided with one and two openings, respectively, said views showing the adjustable arrangement of' the holding-jaws and the manner of exerting an out side grip and an inside grip. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the lifting-tongs with the holding-jaws in their holding relation with a building-block having but a single opening. Figs. 4: and 5 are the two reverse end views of one of the holding-jaws, showing in Fig. 4 one of the tubular lifting or carrying members or arms of the tongs in crosssection; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the jaw. Figs. 7 and 8 are two side views of a liftingtongs of a modified form of construction, with a longitudinal vertical sectional representation, respectively, of a single-holed and double-holed building block or stone, showing the manner of the application of the holding-jaws of this tongs to these forms of blocks or stones; and Fig. 9 is a top or plan view of the parts represented in said Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is an end view of one of the holding-jaws of the tongs shown in said Figs. 7, 8, and 9, with a sectional representation on line 10 10 in said Fig. 7 of one of the lifting or carrying members or arms of the tongs; and Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the said lifting or carrying member of the tongs, taken on line 11 11 in said Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the hinged or pivotally-connected end portions of the two lifting or carrying members or arms of the tongs and a portion of one of the holding-jaws, showing a modified means of securing the said jaw in its adjusted relation upon its lifting or carrying member or arm; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section of the same, said section being taken on line 13 13 in said Fig. 12. 7

Similar characters of reference are employed in the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts. I

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a complete lifting-tongs made according to and embodying the principles of my present invention, the same comprising in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, a pair of lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and 3. These said members or arms may be solid or of a tubular or pipe-like cross-section, preferably the latter,and at their inner; ends they are respectively provided with suitably-formed pintle-receiving ears or hinge members 4 and 5 and a pin or bolt 6 therein, by means of which the said members or arms 2 and 3 are hinged or pivotally connected, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings. Movably and adjustably arranged upon the said lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and 3, respectively, are suitably-formed holdingjaws 7 and 8. Each holding-jaw 7 and 8 consists, essentially, of a tubular hub or sleeve 9, which is slidably arranged upon the lifting or carrying member or arm, the said hub or sleeve 9 threaded lug 10 and a set or binding screw 11,

having its lower end portion 12 adapted to be brought in binding engagement with a longitudinal slot or groove 13 in the lifting or carrying member or arm, all with a view of fixing each holding-jaw in its adjusted position upon the respective lifting or carrying member or arm 2 or 3 and maintaining the vertical longitudinal alinement of the two holding-jaws 7 and 8 in the manner and for the purposes to be presently described.

Each holding-jaw is provided upon one side of its hub or sleeve 9 with a projection or extension 14,- with which is connected a forwardly-extending arm 15, the central axis of which is preferably in the same plane, passing through the central axis of the tubular hub or sleeve 9, although this of itself is not an absolute necessity. vided at its free end with a downwardly-extending finger 16, the said arm 15 and finger 16being preferably strengthened by a rib 17. The lower end portion 18 of each finger 16 is preferably bent in an inward direction, substantially as shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the bent portion being provided at its free end with a pair of perforated ears or lugs 19, carrying a pin or bolt 20, upon which is swingingly arranged the perforated ear or lug 22 of a holding or grasping plate 21, substantially as shown.

Having thus described the general construction of the various parts of the liftingtongs, the said holding-jaws 7 and 8 are slid- Each arm 15 is pro- Fig. 1 of the drawings that when the jaws 7 V and 8 are in the positions shown any upward movement of the two members or arms 2 and 3 in the direction of the arrows w while'lifting or carrying the tongs will produce the outside grip in the direction of the arrows 3 sothat when the lingers 16 of the arms 15 of the respective holding-jaws 7 and 8 are inserted in the single opening of the building block or stone, as shown, the respective holding or grasping plates 21 are made to bear against the opposite faces of the single open- -.ing in the block or stone, whereby the block or stone can be safely lifted and carried about.

That the tongs may be employed for lifting and carrying larger building blocks or stones, which are usually provided with two openings separated from each other by a central wall or partition, it becomes necessary that the holding-jaws 7 and 8 of the tongs shall produce the inside grip or a pressure upon the opposite sides of the said central wall or partition of the block or stone. This is accomplished by loosening the set-screws 11 of the two holding-jaws 7 and 8 and bysliding the hub or sleeve 9 of each jaw toward the hinged or pivotal connection of the two lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and 3, crossing the arms 15 of the two holding-jaws 7 and 8, substantially in the manner shown, and whereby the fingers16, after the jaws 7 and 8 have been secured by means of the set-screws 11 in their adjusted positions, are each inserted in an opening of the building block or stone, and the holding or grasping plates 21 are arranged, respectively, upon the opposite-sides of the central. wall or partition of the block or stone, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will thus be evident that any upward movement of the two lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and 3 in the direction of the arrows w in said Fig. 2 of the drawings while lifting or carrying the tongs willproduce the inside grip in the direction of the' arrows 2, so that when the fingers 16 of the arms 15 of the two holding-jaws 7 and 8 are inserted each in an opening of the block or stone the grasping-plates 21 will bear upon the opposite sides of the central wall or partition of the block or stone, as clearly illustrated in said Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereby the building block or stone can be safely lifted and carried about.

- -When the lifting-tongs 1 is to be used with a derrick or other raising device, the two lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and 3 of the tongs may be provided with receiving eyes or links 23, suitably secured to the said members or arms 2 and 3 at or near the ends thereof. The arrangement of the hubs or sleeves 9 upon the said members or arms 2 and 3 is such that when the end portions of the screws 11 are above the longitudinal slots or grooves 13 the said holding-jaws 7 and 8 can be rotated outwardly, so that the holding or grasping plates 21 will pass each other when moving the jaws 7 and 8 from their positions shown in Fig. 1 to the positions in Fig. 2, or vice versa, after which the said holding-jaws can again be brought in alinement by once more causing the ends of the screws to be insorted in the slots or grooves 13 of the members or arms 2 and 3.

Instead of making the two lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and3 of a tubular or solid cylindrical cross-section the said members or arms may be cast so as to form a cross or star 24 in transverse section, as shown in Figs.7 to 10, inclusive, the grip or handle portions at the ends of the said members or'arrns being made of a semicylindrical configuration, as at 25, upon their under surfaces, as clearly shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, that the said end portions can be safely held in the hand and avoid all danger of cutting the hands when carrying a heavy load, as will be clearly evident. With this construction, as willbe seen from an inspection of Fig. 10 of the drawings, the hub 0r sleeve 9 of each holding-jaw 7 and 8 is made with the lower semicylindrical opening 26 and the upper and narrow slot or channel 27, whereby the hub or sleeve of each holding jaw can be slid over the handle end of each lifting or carrying member or arms 2 and 3, with its narrow slot or channel 27 slidably arranged upon the upper rib of the cross or star 2 1, thereby providing a suitable guide which prevents any rotation upon the said members or arms 2 and 3 and at all times maintaining the proper alinement of the two holding-jaws 7 and 8. That the two holding-jaws may pass each other when converting from an inside grip to an outside grip or vice versa, I have dispensed with the bent or curved lower end portion of each finger 16, the fingers being straight, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, and whereby the grasping-plates 21 are respectively located upon opposite sides of the central and vertical plane, passing through the longitudinal central axes of the hinged or pivotally-connected members or arms 2 and 3.

The arrangement and construction of the remaining parts of the holding-tongs and the manipulation and operations of the tongs for lifting and carrying building blocks or stones provided with one or two openings is the same as that previously described and will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings.

Another means for suitably and adjustably securing the hubs or sleeves of the said holding-jaws 7 and 8 upon the respective lifting or carryingmembers or arms 2 and 3 of the lifting-tongs is represented in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings, in which case each member or arm 2 and 3 is made with a longitudinallyextending slot or keyway 28, each hub or sleeve of the holding-jaws being provided with a key or spline 29, having its lower portion extending into and movably arranged in a slot or keyway 28, as shown. A set or binding screw 30 is provided in the side or other suitable part of each hub or sleeve for suitably securing each holding-jaw upon the respective lifting or carrying members or arms 2 and 3.

I am fully aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts as described in the foregoing specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of any of. the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of pivotally-connected arms, holding-jaws,and a lifting or raising means connected with said holding-jaws, the holding means of said jaws being movable past the means of the pivotal connection of said arms, whereby the lifting force applied to said means in one direction will produce a grasping or holding pressure of said jaws either in outward or inward directions according to the relative positions of the said jaws to said lifting or raising means, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws movably and adjustably connected with said arms, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms in one direction will produce a grasping or holding pressure of said jaws in outward or inward directions according to the relative positions of the said jaws to said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of pivotally-connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws movably and adjustably connected with said arms, and means connected with said holding-jaws for securing the same in fixed positions upon the said arms, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms in onedirection will produce a grasping or holding pressure of said jaws outwardly and away from the point of pivotal connection of said arms, or inwardly toward'said point of pivotal connection according to the relative positions of said jaws to said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws movably and adjustably connected with said arms, each jaw comprising a forwardly-extending arm, a downwardly-extending finger, and a grasping-plate upon the free end portion of each finger, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms in one direction will produce a grasping or holding relation of said grasping-plates in outward or in ward directions according to the relative positions of the said jaws to the said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of pivotally-connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws movably and adjustably connected with said arms, each jaw comprisinga forwardly-extending arm, a downwardly-extending finger, and a grasping-plate upon the free end portion of each finger, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms in one direction will produce a grasping or holding relation of said grasping-plates outwardly and away from the point of pivotal connection of said arms, or inwardly toward said point of pivotal connection according to the relative positions of said jaws to said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws movably and adjustably connected with said arms, each jaw comprising a forwardly-extending arm, a downwardly-extending finger, apivotal pin near the lower free end of each finger, and a grasping-plate pivotally connected with each pin, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms in one direction will produce a grasping or holding relation of said grasping-plates in outward or inward directions accordingto the relative positions of the said jawsto the said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7 In alifting-tongs, a pair of pivotally-connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws movably and adjustably con-- nected with said arms, each jaw comprisinga forwardly-extendingv arm, a down wardly-extending finger, a pivotal pin near the lower free end of each finger, and a grasping-plate pivotally connected with each pin, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms ing or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. Ina lifting-tongs, apair of connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding-jaws, each jaw comprising a hub movably and adjustably arranged upon an arm, and means for preventing a rotative movement of the hub on said arm, a forwardly-extending arm on said hub, a downwardly-extending finger on said arm, and a grasping-plate upon the free end portion of each finger, all arranged that the lifting force applied to the said arms in one direction will produce a grasping or holding relationof said grasping-plates in outward or inward directions according to the relative positions of the said jaws to the said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1

9. In a lifting-tongs, a pair of pivotally-connected lifting or raising arms, and a pair of holding jaws, each jaw comprising a hub movably and adjustably arranged upon an arm, and means for preventing a rotative movement of the hub on said arm, a forwardly-extending arm on said hub, a downwardly-extending finger on said arm, and a graspingplate upon the free end portion of each finger, all arranged that'the lifting force applied to said arms in one direction will produce a grasping or holding relation of said graspingplates outwardly and away from the point of pivotal connection of said arms, or inwardly toward said point of pivotal connection according to the relative positions of said jaws to said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a lifting-tongs, the combination,with a pair of connected lifting or raising arms, of a pair of holding-jaws, each jaw being movably and adjustably connected with an arm, said holding-jaws having angularly-formed holding members, each angular member being provided with a grasping means, and all arranged that when the angular members of said jaws are crossed they will exert pressure in inward directions, but when separated will exert pressure in outward directions as soon as a lifting'force is applied to the said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In a lifting-tongs, the combination,with a pair of pivotally-connected lifting or raising arms, of a pair of holding-jaws, each jaw being movably and adjustably connected with an arm, said holding-jaws having angularlyformed holding members, each angular member being provided with a grasping means, and all arranged that when the angular members of said jaws are crossed they will exert pressure in inward directions, but when separated will exert pressure in outward direc-' tions as soon as a lifting force is applied to the said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a lifting-tongs, the combination, with a pair of connected lifting or raising arms, of a pair of holding-jaws, each jaw comprising a hub movably and adjustably connected with an arm, and means for preventing a rotative movement of each hub upon its arm, said hubs having angularly-formed holding members, each angular member being provided with a grasping means, and all arranged that when the angular members are crossed they will exert pressure in inward directions, but when separated will exert pressure in outward directions as soon as a lifting force is applied to the said lifting or raising arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of February, 1905.

JAMES P. HALL.

Witnesses:

ALBERT A. TAYLOR, M. WEINBERG. 

